Push-switch socket



' @c u w27 E. H. FREEMAN v PUSH SWITCH SOCXIKET Firled June 9, 1925Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED SFATFS Ltslt FATENT FFECE.

EDGAR H. FREEMAN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-r'MENTS, TO CIRGLE F. MFG. CO., OF TRENTON, NEl/V JERSEY, A CRPORATION 0FNEW JERSEY.

PUSILS'WITCH SOCKET.

Application ilcd June E),

This invention relates to electric lamp sockets of the so-called pushbutton type having a novel and reliable push-switch construction.

A primary object oit the invention is to provide a switch mechanismwherein the switch parts are sufiiciently large and heavy adequately tocarry currents of large capacity, for example 250 watts, and which willalso effect a quick make and break.

In the use of lamp sockets in connection with electrical appliances suchas washing machines, heaters, irons, stoves and the like, it isnecessary to provide a switch inechanism which is sturdy enough to carrythe large current required for such devices and which will open andclose the circuit quickly to prevent the formation of an arc. ln usingthe ordinary switch mechanism in conf nection with devices consuminglarge quantities of current considerable tire risk is involved and inorder to meet underwriters requirements it is necessary to provide asocket that will stand up under extraordinary load conditions and alsoeffect a rapid make and break.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andreliable Switch mechanism which is capable of facile assembly and issimple and reliable in its operation. In that connection it may bepointed out that the invention contemplates mounting the switch lever ina novel way in the insulating block as well as providing a novelactuating means therefor.

'Vith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment ot the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which p Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of the improved socket.

Figure 2 is also a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken at rightangles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1 lookingin the direction oi' the arrows.

1923. Serial No. 644,430.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 oi' Figure 3.I

Figure 6 is a detail sectional'view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several iigures of the drawings. n

In carrying the invention into ei'iect it is proposed to provide a pairof porcelain or other insulating blocks A and B adapted to be heldtogether, when the socket is assembled by the non-current carryingscrews a and b. The cap block A has a cavity or chamber 1 forming a partof the switch chamber and the base block B is provided on its inner facewith a guideway 2 terminating at opposite ends in the enlarged portions3 and formed with the abutment shoulders et, the purpose of which willhereinafter more fully appear.

The outer tace of the base block is formed with an offset portion 5 forfacilitating the positioning of the screw shell 6, and is also providedat its central portion with a relatively shallow recess 7 and thebearing seats b. bearing seats is provided with a Haring opening asshown in Figure 5 thereby providing the opposite inclined switch bladeabutment walls 9. Y

Also as shown in Figure el the opposite sides of the block B areprovided with the recesses 10 and 11 for receiving the line wire bindingterminals 12 and 13. The binding terminal 12 is electrically connectedthrough the washer plate co with the screw shell contact 6, and thebinding terminal 13 is connected with the spring contact linger lll byscrew la.

Another spring contact linger 15 is housed within the switch chamberformed by the complemental parts of the blocks A and B, and this contactfinger is electrically connected with the center plug contact 16 of thesocket by means of a rivet 17.

Referring more particularly to the switch proper. it will be observedthat the same comprises an oscillating switch frame C, a shifter memberD and an actuator E.

The said switch frame C consists of a substantially U-shaped body 18 andhas openings in the ends of its armste receive a pivot pin 19 adapted torest in the bearing'seats 8 of the base block B, whereby the shifter Theportion of the button between the 5'" member designated generally as Dmay serve to `perform the double function of holding the frame C to itsseat and also holding said frame and its actuator E in operative relation.

VrPhe said shifter member D consists of the stem or plunger 2O slidablyguided in the web 21 of the frame C and has a forked endportion 22,together with a spring 23 mount ed on the stem and confined between thesaid forked portion 22 andV the web 21 of the switch member. The notchor recess in the forked portion 22 receives the cross piece 2A of theslide bar 25 of the actuator E, said bar being shiftably mounted on thebottom of the guideway 2 and provided withV angu,

' larly oset end portions for carrying the out of the enlarged ends 3 ofpush buttons 26 and 27 which move into and the guideway when manipulatedby finger pressure thereby to cause bar 25 to be shifted transversely ofthe body blocks A and B for operating the switch frame. l

As will be observed from Figure 4 the said push buttons 26 and 27 may belimited in their inward movement by the shoulders 4, thereby preventingoveretravel of the actuator E. Also, in connection with the saidactuator E comprising the slide bar 25 and push buttons 26 and 27 itwill be observed that the bar is yieldingly held against the bottom ofthe guideway 2 by the forked end 22 of the shifter member D, therebyproviding a simple and practical mounting` for the actuator. In otherwordsv the spring 21 eX- erting its force on the switch frame and theslide bar serves to hold both of these parts inv place. To assist inassembling the socket during manufacture, and Valso insulate the frameand center plug, it is proposed to use a fibre cover piecewhich issecured in posic tion by the eyelet 17 ywhich connects the contactfinger 15 and the center plug contact 16.

When the device is in use it will be apparent that upon shifting orpushing inward of the button 27 the bar 25 will be slidably moved alongthe guideway 2 and the cross piece 24 thereof will cause the movement ofthe stem 20 through the opening in the web of the switch frame therebycompressing the` spring 23 and storing up energy. As soon as the crosspiece 2A passes dead center, that is, the point at which the axis of thestem and the axis of the opening in the web 20 coincide, the switchframe 18 will be snapped automatically into the dotted line positionshown in Figure 1 thereby engaging the contact fingers 14C and 15.l/Vhen the circuit is to be opened the reverse of the above opera,- tiontakes place and the switch frame 18 is moved back to the full lineposition shown in Figure 1 with a sharp quick movement, therebypreventing the formation of an arc between the` switch frame and thecontact lingers when the circuit is opened.

Vthen the switch frame is actuated under the influence of the spring 23of the shifter member D, the side edges thereof will engage with theinclined walls 9 in the porcelain block B. Thus, the arc of movement rof the switch frame 18 is limited by the inclined walls 9 in the block,and likewise the movement of the actuator including the push buttons 26and 27 is limited by the said push buttons engaging with the shoulders tin the insulating body.

From the foregoingl it will be apparent that one of the novel anddistinctive features of the present invention is the arrangement of theswitch frame 18 and the slide bar 25 of the actuator E. rlhe switchframe 18 operates at the side of the block opposite to that in which itis pivot-ed and the result of this arrangement is that it permits thespring 23 of the shifter member D to perform the dual function ofholding the switch frame and slide bar of the actuator member in place.

Viithout further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the present improvement will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and it will of course be understood that changes inthe form, pro- Y portion and minor details of construction may beresorted to withoutV departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the appended claims.

I claim 1. A push button socket including a base formed at one facethereof with pivot bearing seats, a shifter member adapted to slidablyengage with the other face of the base, a Vswitch member, a. pivot pinengaging said switch'member andresting inthe bearing seats, a plungerengaging the switch member and also engaging the shifter member, and aspring confined between a part of the plunger and switch member andholding the shifter member and theswitch member to opposite sides-of`the base.

itil) 2. A socket ofthe class described including an insulating basemember having pivot bear ing seats at its outer face, a switch membeneupivot pin engaging said switch member and resting in said bearing, ashifter member slidably engaging the inner face of the insulating base,a plunger for throwing the switch member and for engaging both saidswitch member and the shifter member, and a spring compressed andconfined between a part of the plunger and the switch member thereby tohold both of said members to the base. y

3. A socket of the class described including an insulating base having acentral opening and pivot bearing seats formedat opposite sides of saidopening in the outer face of the base, a switch member arranged in saidcentral opening, a pivot pin engaging one end of the switch member andresting ilo in said bearing seats, a shifter member slidably engagingthe inner face of the base, a plunger engaging the shifter member andthe switch member, a. spring confined between the plunger and the switchmember for holding both of said members to opposite faces of the base,and an insulation member secured to the outer face of the base andcovering said pivot pin.

el. A socket of the class described including insulating cap and basemembers formed to provide a switch chamber and a guideway, said basemember having pivot bearing seats in its outer face, a screw shellcontactcarried by the base member, a line wire terminal carried by thebase member and contacting' with the screw shell, another line wireterminal carried by the base member, a switch Contact connected with thelast named line wire terminal and arranged in the switch chamber, aswitch arranged in said switch chamber, a pivot pin engaging said switchand resting in the said bearing Seats, a center plug contact carried bythe base member, an insulation piece arranged between said pivot pinlying in the bearing seats and the center plug Contact, another switchcontact engaging said center plug contact and having a portion lyingwithin the switch chamber, ashiftermember in said guide-way and slidablyengaging the inner face ot' the base and a spring pressed plungerconfined between the shifter member and the switch to hold the latterand the shifter member to opposite faces of the base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX my signature.

EDGAR H. FREEMAN.r

